Editing vs. Censorship

[ysabetwordsmith]

It's time for our regularly scheduled SFWA squabble. Here's a piece by C.C. Finlay and a piece by David Gerrold. You know how I express my dissatisfaction with this organization that seems to start a brawl every few months? I stay away from it, and associate with saner ones.

Let me explain the difference in between editing and censorship. (

Comments

[lb_lee]

*sigh* AGAIN? You'd think SFWA would learn from the LAST TIME this happened...

*sigh*

[ysabetwordsmith]

When I was growing up, the SFWA was a respectable and respected organization insofar as I could see. I wished to become a member.

But by the time I started making sales, the problems were becoming more visible. This didn't bother me at first, so I kept paying attention.

I looked at the qualification guidelines and realized that none of my stuff fit -- stuff I was getting paid for which is my marker for professional vs. hobby activity. And it wasn't just a few cases; the pattern was that most of the things didn't qualify. This continued as my wordsmithing income rose to a significant portion of household budget. Clearly the organization was missing a large swath of the marketplace. This was inefficient and troublesome

Re: *sigh*

[lb_lee]

I aspired to SFWA-dom too, though obviously I've never managed to get off the ground. I seem to run into the problem that the sci-fi purveyors I saw, be it magazines or organizations or whatever, seemed to be sick of soft sci-fi, and want all hard or military. Plus my LGBT stuff is apparently considered its own category. I seem to have a much easier time selling directly to my readers, rather than trying to sell to a magazine or a middleman.

--Rogan

Re: *sigh*

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I aspired to SFWA-dom too, though obviously I've never managed to get off the ground. <<

I know a bunch of folks who either gave up on it, or managed to join but quit after a few years. That org seriously does not serve the needs of folks outside the mainstream.

>> I seem to run into the problem that the sci-fi purveyors I saw, be it magazines or organizations or whatever, seemed to be sick of soft sci-fi, and want all hard or military. <<

Some are. There are some that specialize in sociological SF though. It takes digging to find good markets. The market guides have pretty much all gone online, and the free ones have either closed or gone to subscription. So that's when I kind of gave up on most magazines.

>> Plus my LGBT stuff is apparently considered its own category. ... )

[solarbird]

What's just sent me over from embarrassment and disappointment to rage?

The petition's author, Dave Truesdale, described the 2007 mostly-women PK Dick Award shortlist as, and I quote, "vagina-heavy" and the authors as "five furry pussies on the ballot."

I was merely very disappointed in the signatories. Now I'm very angry. Anybody who would sign a petition by this asshole is on my die in a fire list.

[lb_lee]

Ah, the old sexist double-take: if it's all men on the ballot, it's because they were just objectively the best there is. If it's all women on the ballot, it's because they cheated.

--Rogan

*snrk*

[ysabetwordsmith]

And this is why I prefer things to be judged with names off.

I think that would be prudent for job applications too, at least for the first round or two. It would at least give people a chance to get their foot in the door.

Re: *snrk*

[cissa]

Oh, yes.